Mick Byrne 200 2015

I Equal parts Love / Fear this event since the very first one nearly destroyed me. Spent that day fighting the wind and solo after being dropped from a small group. Hardest thing I've ever done.I will say that the Sorrento people really pull out all the stops with rest stops. I did 2 more after that and though tough, they weren't as hard as the first one.

Anyway, this thread caught my attention last Thursday out of nostalgia. my big days on bike were long gone after very serious spinal injuries and surgeries 7 years ago. I wasn't sure I'd ever walk let alone be on a bike.About 2 hours after reading the thread I got this uneasy feeling and it sank in that I had clicked the link and signed up. For better or worse I'll be there and it will either finish me altogether or restore me being true cyclist.

Debrad wrote: »

Sorry,
I meant to mention in the last post that YES as always we will have road markings...and you will have a route sheet with mileage/Kms turns listed as in other Audax events...

Following the road markings should however keep you out of trouble!
The Sorrento Team

Throw a few spare pairs of legs in the van too please

Did a few bits of it on a club spin last weekend.

The road down from Mucklagh towards Aughavannagh and Slieve Mann is (as usual) in a state. Watch out for some massive potholes, gravel etc as you come down. It's very easy to pick up a lot of speed there.

Have fun.

The forecast I saw on yr was a mixed bag, but rain coming in from the west later in the day , hoping by the time it does arrive I will be on the military road sniffing a rather large achievement (for me). In planning phase now with one saddle bag busting at the seams! I even tin foiled some fruit cake I found in the press.

I've already done the hard way last year. Was hoping for sone sunshine for a change... silly me :-D

Anyone who want a a free entry for the 160km can have mine. Family occasion has intervened and I can't partake.

Have a free entry for this. Don't have the miles in the legs to be able for it.

Christ, that was some wind coming over the Sallygap. Hailstones weren't really much-appreciated either. Good event, bloody wrecked.

Did the 200km route in 8 1/2 hours moving, 9 1/2 hours total.Very well marked,plenty of food at the check in points and the helpers were lovely and friendly.But the wind across Sally Gap from the waterfall to Glencree was a killer.

Great event, great food and great route! Scenery was stunning ( well I was going slow enough that I could appreciate it). But what can you say about the wind? The head/crosswinds up at Sally gap were something else. The tail wind on Slieve Mann was fantastic! Great event and well done SorrentoCC.

Great event sorrento well done to you all. In a weeks time (when I've recovered) I'll be looking foward to next year. Sandwiches in laragh were great. Set out with the 200 group with the intention of diving off for the 160 but happy I stuck at it. Tough going. Got back at 6.30. No glory there but better than I thought at the start of the day. Bed............aaaaaaaahhhhh

Leroy42 wrote: »

Good? My app says cold (10c) with 30+k winds and a good chance of rain!

The wind didn't slow you down much - big kudos for this ride

Woke up in the hotel and with a bottle of Lucozade and 2 Jam Donuts for breakfast I knew the day was going to be tough. After eventually deciding what to wear due to the variable weather forecast I headed down to the start. Good crowd at the start and set off on time with some nice little warm up climbs out of Dalkey. I moved in and out of groups for the first hour and I think it was the top of Djouce hill when I stopped for a second breakfast.

After that I spent most of the day out on my own but the weather stead dry coupled with the beautiful scenery it was a great day on the bike. There was something physiological about reaching the top of the climb out of Woodenbridge because at that point the cycle finally turned back towards Dublin I stopped about every 25km to top up on food and give the legs a rest. The long drag along Ballycreen combined with the wind was tough and to be greeted by Slieve Mann at the bottom was a nice touch!!!

The foodstop in Laragh was great and a big thanks to the woman there who made me a sandwich due to my 'picky' diet and also that diluted orange was fantastic. Not realising how long the slog up to Sally gap was I set off at a reasonable pace and was delighted when I finally seen the Kippure mast as I knew it was nearly home. The climb was interesting as I had headwind, side wind and even a tail wind blowing me up at certain sections! pretty much rolled down the decent as the legs were tired and thankfully at the little climb by the Ski Jump place the Orwell train picked me up (thanks lads!) and carried me to the Kiliney hill where I crawled up and completed by a lap of Dalkey to the finish.

Short cycle back to hotel carpark to collect the car and back in Galway at about 10 last night so a long day but big up to the organisers for great day and tremendous value. I also got a nice spin along the start of the Orwell Randonee route to the Kippure Mast on the Saturday which was a great warm up, 1000m climbing in 35km!

Ride time (including to and from) was 8:38 with a 9:53 total time, 3800m ascend and average speed of 23.7km, phew even typing these stats make me tired!!!!!

Alek wrote: »

Going down 50kph by the lake after Sally's, a gust of wind blown me half a lane sideways in an instant. My buddy was in shock after seeing this...definitely one of my scariest cycling moments.

That's probably Lough Bray. Normally a tricky fast descent but yesterday I thought I was going to be blown backwards towards the Gap.
Bad and all as the wind was, imagine doing it today!

Alek wrote: »

Going down 50kph by the lake after Sally's, a gust of wind blown me half a lane sideways in an instant. My buddy was in shock after seeing this...definitely one of my scariest cycling moments.

Got a bit of a fright myself there too - due to a numerically large family plus dog crossing the road as I came around the corner at a fair pace. Thankfully they all jumped out of the way.

Excellent organisation by Paul and Sorrento - directions, road markings and the stop at Laragh were worthy of any sportive in the country but for the cost of an audax. Tough route, up and down all day and the 3 biggest climbs didn't start until the second 100Km . Well done to all who finished - I'll be putting this down a must do in future years.

I still look in awe at your average speed for this event, Leroy42! I wouldn't see much from behind the curtain of sweat and tears rolling down my face if I tried to ride this as fast

17 of us Boardsies have posted already that we were on the MB on Sunday. Didn't see a single Boards jersey all day. My excuse is that I only collected mine today. Maybe others were covered up by winter jackets?

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Didn't see any at the Tour of Louth either!

This is what we should be seeing more of

It was too cold for a jersey! I was shivering in my winter jacket at times...

NamelessPhil wrote: »

I said hi to a boardsie in green shorts on the way out of Roundwood on the 200. I rode with doozerie, well I say rode with more like I crawled my way up the hills while he skipped off into the distance. Some lovely bikes on the ride. As ever it's a great event and it was nice to have some company on the ride rather than riding it as a solo audax permanent spin.

That was me Phil but I kept the gilet on all day. It wasn't really a day for just a jersey and baselayer.